Lady Monarchs Travel to NC State and Liberty This Weekend

NORFOLK, Va. -- The Lady Monarchs head out on the road again this Thursday and won't return home for a game until September 28. They will first face ACC opponent N.C. State on Thursday, September 13 at 4:00 pm and then travel to Liberty University for a match-up set for Saturday, September 15 with kick-off at 6:00 pm. The Lady Monarchs are 2-1-0, while the Wolfpack are 2-1-1 and the Flames have started 0-3.

The Lady Monarchs have limited meetings against both of these programs. This will be just the third matchup between ODU and both teams. N.C. State took both games over the Lady Monarchs back in 1995 and 1996 and the two have not met since. Against the Flames, the Monarchs are 2-0, with both wins coming over the last two seasons.

In the Polls:Old Dominion was picked to finish third in the Colonial Athletic Association Pre-Season Coaches Poll. The team is also ranked 11th in the SOCCER BUZZ Magazine Mid-Atlantic Region Top 15.

N.C. State is also receiving votes in the SOCCER BUZZ Regional rankings.

Last Time Out:ODU dropped an overtime heartbreaker at East Carolina after holding the Pirates to zero shots in the entire second half. It was just the second time the Lady Monarchs had been shut out in the past 25 contests. The team would bounce back at home against Radford though, as they won 5-1. ODU scored four second half goals including the game-winning corner kick goal from junior Janna Pearson and freshman Ashley Kukura's first career goal.

Climbin' The Charts:Junior Shavon Knight is already among the programs historically best scorers and continues to climb. With her three goals already this season, she is now tied with Laura Beeman for fifth all-time with 21.

Her 48 career points as trampolined her into sole possession of fifth all-time behind Jen Henley (109), Beeman (86), Melanie McGovern (74) and Jennifer Gillespie (63). She is also tied for 10th all-time in assists with eight.

Fellow junior Janna Pearson also is among the top ten in points (31), goals (11) and assists (9). Also among the leaders is senior Lisa McKenzie with 36 points, 13 goals, and 10 assists.